Friday, February 8, 2002
U.S.A. chooses WTC flag-bearers
By CHRIS STEVENSON -- SLAM! Sports
SALT LAKE CITY - Mark Grimmette remembers exactly where he was that day, as we all do.
The American luger had just finished a training run on the track in Lake Placid, N.Y., and was heading towards the locker room when somebody ran by and yelled that the World Trade Centre had been attacked. Grimmette stuck his head in a conference room where staff were huddled around a television set.
"I was floored," he said.
Somewhere on that television screen, unseen beneath the tons of broken cement, mangled steel and shattered lives, the eight-by-12 foot American flag that had been flying over Tower One lay torn.
It was resurrected from the rubble and has become a symbol of America's resilience in the face of the terrorist attacks.
Grimmette nor anyone else knew about that flag on Sept. 11, but come Friday night he will be connected to it, carrying it into the Olympic Stadium in what will surely be one of the most moving moments in an event that is known for its moving moments.
Grimmette was selected as one of the eight American athletes who will carry the World Trade Centre flag into the Olympic Stadium as part of the Opening Ceremonies along with an honour guard of police and firemen.
"It's pretty special for me to be able to do that. It's quite an honour and was kind of unexpected for me. I was just amazed," said Grimmette of the moment when the luge team leader told him he had been selected for the honour. "To be representing the athletes and carry that in, it will be a very special moment."
The eight athletes represent each of the Winter Olympic sports in which the Americans will compete.
The others all share some connection to the tragedy of Sept. 11 or have inspirational stories: Biathlete Kristina Sabasteanski currently serves in the U.S. military; skeleton athlete Lea Ann Parsley is a firefighter, curler Cindy Liapis's boyfriend is a fireman; Angela Ruggiero is a hockey player who is a close friend of national team member Kathleen Kauth, whose father was killed in the attacks; snowboarder Chris Klug is in his second Olympic Games after undergoing an organ transplant and speedskater Derek Parra is a former rollerblader who won a gold medal in the 1995 Pan-American Games after getting hit by a car at the start of the event.
"That flag is so important to so many people. It shows we're still standing," said skeleton athlete Jim Shea. Jr., who will give the Athletes Oath at the Opening Ceremonies as his late grandfather, Jack, did 70 years ago.
The flag will be brought into the stadium early in the ceremony. During the dress rehearsal Wednesday night, a big white sheet was its stand-in.
"I was standing with a secret service agent and pretending to be the president," said Salt Lake Organizing Committee president and CEO Mitt Romney. "I was still choked with emotion just knowing what it represented there. It was very touching and the cheers were deafening...I think it's going to be the most powerful moment of the ceremonies."
Ceremony produce Don Mischer said no real alterations to the program had to be made to incorporate the Ground Zero flag segment. It has been made part of the leadup to the playing of the American national anthem.
"I don't know what the reaction is going to be," he said. "I don't know if it's going to be silence or cheering."
The flag will not be raised on a flagpole in the stadium because of its delicate condition, but instead will be kept with the American delegation during the ceremony.
The Ground Zero flag is no doubt going to be a focal point, but there were assurances Thursday the Opening Ceremony will not become a red, white and blue show.
Robbie Robertson, the Canadian music legend who helped put together the show and will perform Friday night, said he was impressed with the tone that was struck during the rehearsal Wednesday night.
"The feeling for me...I never felt such a strong feeling of unity," he said.
"A feeling of world-wide unity. It was an opening of arms and all that represents. I was absolutely moved by it. I think everybody everywhere is going to feel a part of it."
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